Justin Timberlake Is Performing At The Super Bowl Again And Janet Jackson Fans Want Justice
Justice for Janet.
Strap yourselves in because we’re about to re-live the biggest pop culture drama of 2004 all over again.
Today it was announced that Justin Timberlake would be performing at next year’s NFL Super Bowl half-time show, his first Super Bowl performance since the infamous “wardrobe malfunction” scandal 14 years ago.
Back in 2004, Timberlake and Janet Jackson performed the half-time show together. At the end of their performance Timberlake ripped off a part of Jackson’s top, revealing her breast for less than second. The incident became known as ‘Nipplegate’ and sparked a huge conversation in the US about ‘moral decency’ and what should and shouldn’t be broadcast.
One aspect of the incident that has continued to stir debate is the different ways in which Jackson and Timberlake were punished for their roles. Jackson was blacklisted from MTV, VH1 and numerous other music channels and radio stations. JT, on the other hand, emerged without any lasting damage. He was asked a few questions about it in interviews but he didn’t face the commercial or critical backlash Jackson did. He later acknowledged that Jackson bore a disproportionate amount of blame due to her gender.
But now that he’s been locked in as the Super Bowl entertainment again, a lot of people think it’s time for him to offer up a more serious apology.
Unless Justin Timberlake starts his set by introducing Janet Jackson with an apology and then continues watching quietly while she does 12 minutes of her catalog solo, the Super Bowl can keep this halftime show.
— Crystal Methanny (@RafiDAngelo) October 23, 2017
Justin Timberlake betta bring out Janet and apologize at the halftime show I know that
— Doc Savage (@SoloChills) October 23, 2017
Justin Timberlake officially doing Super Bowl halftime. Dream setlist:
– "Lovestoned"
– 9-minute Janet Jackson apology
– "Gone" (w/ *NSYNC)— Jason Lipshutz (@jasonlipshutz) October 23, 2017
Even Australia pop legend Darren Hayes as weighed in:
I hope JT uses his third opportunity to perform at the Super Bowl to make right with Ms Jackson. #sorrymsjackson
— Darren Hayes (@darrenhayes) October 23, 2017
A lot of people pointed out that race probably played a role in terms of the treatment of each artist too:
The NFL banned Janet Jackson but they are bringing back Justin Timberlake to perform because Justin has the complexion for the protection pic.twitter.com/FwP0EY2wUk
— Tariq Nasheed (@tariqnasheed) October 23, 2017
.@jtimberlake still ensuring white privilege remains in style in 2017. Meanwhile, Janet Jackson is still left in the cold.
My only request is that you don't perform any of the music inspired by her brother or any Black artist.
You love our culture, but disrespect our people. https://t.co/VTVWiGponv
— Ernest Owens (@MrErnestOwens) October 23, 2017
Timberlake has previously been accused of appropriating black culture, while ignoring issues affecting the black community.
“We’re not feeling him being down when it’s beneficial to him and turning a blind eye when it could be dangerous,” rapper Vic Mensa said last year.
“Justin Timberlake himself, you know, is definitely benefiting from using black culture for his sound, his dance moves, his dancers and blowing up off of it,” he said. “But if you roll down Justin Timberlake’s Twitter for the past two years, which I just did, you see nothing that supports black people when it’s more difficult; when there’s a struggle.”
So far Timberlake has stayed clear from mentioning Janet Jackson or the 2004 incident in his promotion of the upcoming Super Bowl appearance.
Jackson, meanwhile, has used her recent tour to discuss a number of social and political issues including the killing of black men by police officers and the rise of white supremacy.